Toy loom



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

March 5, 1957 c. BOLOGNA Erm.

` TOY. LOOM Filed May 7, 1954 March 5, 1957 Filed May '7, 1954 C. L. BOLOGNA EI'AL.

TOY LOOM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i JNVENTORS. Cairo L .Bolfo gna VL'LLiaI/lv BCLTLCL ma TToRNEr TOY LOOM Ciro L. Bologna, Flushing, and William Barata, Long Island City, N. Y.

Application May 7, 1954, Serial No. 428,340

11 Claims. Cl. 139-29) This invention relates to toys, and particularly to an operative toy loom for the purpose of weaving cloth.

Presently known toys for weaving cloth are lacking in educational value because the looms depart so substantially from commercially known or traditional looms. Toy looms currently available Vare also limited as to the nature of the cloth they can Weave, and the patterns which can be achieved by these devices.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a toy loom which will in many respects operate like the traditional looms to weave cloth.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a toy loom of such simplified design that it can be used by young children.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a toy loom which will be highly safe for use by small children.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a toy loom which will have a minimum number of moving parts.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a toy loom which will have the versatility of commercial looms, without all of the expensive structure thereon.

A feature of the present invention is its novel harness operating device.

Another feature of the present invention is its simplified reed operating structure.

A further feature of the present invention is its simplitied jacquard structure, which is adapted for use by unskilled operators.

The invention consists of the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as herein illustrated, described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, is illustrated one form of embodiment of the invention, in which drawings similar reference characters designate corresponding parts, and in which:

Figure 1 is a complete embodiment in perspective, of a loom in accordance with the present invention, with the heddles omitted, for the sake of clarity.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary section of the loom, showing the harness and heddle arrangement.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken on line 3 3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figure l, .10 indicates a substantially rectangulaiframe having small legs 11 attached to the underside thereof. Spaced upstanding frame members 12 are secured to the base frame member 10, and are maintained and strengthened in this relationship by braces 13 and 14. At one end of the base frame there is carried upon upright supports 15, a warp roller 16. The threads 17 which are to be incorporated into the wrap of the fabric 18 are wound upon the warp roller 16 in the usual way. The warp threads 17 are led over a guide member 19, vthence through the weaving section 20 of the loom, and on to a take-up roller 21. A guide 22 is located immediately in front of the take-up roller 21, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The guides 19 and 22 are secured to the base frame 10 by arms 23 and 24.

A ratchet wheel 25 and holding pawl 26, associated with said ratchet wheel, are located at the outer end of the take-up roller 21. The wheel 25 is attached to the take-up roller 21 and serves to maintain the tension on the threads 17, during the weaving operation.

The weaving section of the loom comprises a harness 27 made up of two shafts 28, each having a plurality of heddles 57 thereon. (See Figure 2.) A small cord 29 is attached to each of the shafts 28, from which the cord 29 is led up over pulleys 30, 31 and 32. The cords 29 are used for the purpose of operating the shafts 28. Operation of the shafts is accomplished by means of two arms or levers 33 and 34, which are pivotally mounted, as indicated at 35, at the top of one of the upstanding frame members 12. The arms 33, 34 have extending portions 37 and 36, respectively secured thereto, which extending portions are inl turn each attached to one of the cord members 29.

As the arms 33, 34 are pulled back, away from the pulleys 32, they draw with them the cord members 29, thereby raising the shafts 28. In this manner the shafts 2S may be alternately raised and lowered in the performance of the weaving operation.

A locking rack 38 is secured to the outer surface of the frame 12, above the pivot point 35 of the arms 33, 34. The locking rack 33 is provided with notches indicated at 39, for the purpose of permitting the operator of the loom to secure one or the other of the arms 33, 34, in the outer position. ln his manner, one or the other of the shafts 28 can be held in a raised position during the weaving operation.

A rod-shaped guide memberl 40 is secured to the up standing frame member 12 at each side of the loom, said member 40 extending in the direction of the take-up roll 21. The guide members 40 are adapted to slidably receive thereon the reed 41, which is used to tighten the woven thread after each traverse of the shuttle 47.

The reed 41 comprises a frame 42 across which are held a plurality of spaced wire members 43, between which the war-p threads 17 are passed.

A race 44 is secured to and carried upon the front of the reed 41. The race 44 is provided with two guide members 45 and 46, on the front thereof, adapted to prevent the shuttle 47 from moving from its desired path. The shuttle 47 may be made of wood, plastic, or some other material, and is tapered at each end to facilitate its passage through the warp threads 17.

The shuttle is propelled from one side of the race 44 to the otherby means of a transport device, best shown in Figure 1, and generally indicated at 61. This device consists of a block `member 62 secured to the end of a rod 63 at each end of the race 44. The rod 63'is slidably received within an end wall 64, carried at eachV member 68, which is secured vto the bottom of each blockV 62, extends downwardly from the block, through the slot 67 and engages the end of a lrubber band 69. Thus, as

the knob 70 of the rod 63 is pulled back, it stretches the rubber band 69 an amount equal to the travel of the earenfed Mar. 5, 1957.

block 62, outwardly within the contines of the race 44 Iin the direction of the wall 64.

The knob 70 will be pulled back with the shuttle 47 in contact with the permanent magnet 65 associated with said knob. When the knob 70 is released the rubber band 69 will drive the block 62 in the direction of the opposite end wall 64 of the race 444. When the knob 70 strikes its end wall, the impact will jar the shuttle 47 free of the permanent magnet 65, whereupon it will be propelled across the race 44 in the direction of the opposite permanent magnet 65. In this manner, a positive propelling action is imparted to the shuttle for each traverse `of the weft thread 50.

Y The magnet 65 in the picker block 62 holds the shuttle 47 at the end of this traverse, and keeps it from rebounding in the direction from which it came.

The mechanical transport structure makes it possible for persons unskilled in the weaving art to accomplish the delicate manipulation of the shuttle through the warp threads.

It is within the purview of the present invention to use other means of imparting motion to the blocks 62, .as for example, the interposition of a coil spring around the rod 63 between the picker block 62 and the end wall 64.

The guide members 45 and 46 on the race 44 are slotted, as indicated at 71, for the purpose of receiving therethrough the thread 50 carried by the shuttle 47. The slots 71 are necessary, since the guide members 45 and 46 have to maintain -a height suicient to house the shuttle 47 and guide it into position at the end of each traverse.

The shuttle 47 is also provided with a central Well 48, Within which there is carried a spool 49, upon which thread t? is wound. A small slot 51 is provided in the side of the shuttle 47, so that the thread 50 may be drawn from the spool 49. A jacquard weaving structure completes the major features of the loom. The jacquard weaving structure, best shown in Figures l and 3, consists primarily of a jacquard block 52, secured to the brace 13 by la support 56, between the upright frame members 12.

The jacquard block 52 is suitably bored to receive therein a plurality of jacquard heddles 53. The heddles 53 are provided with a plurality of buttons 54 on the top thereof, which buttons may be given suitable numbers or letters (not shown) for the purpose of enabling the operator of the loom to follow a prescribed jacquard pattern.

A rubber block 55 is disposed Within the jacquard block 52 for the purpose of maintaining the jacquard heddles in whatever position they are placed. The rubber block 55 is pierced with a plurality of holes, which are slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the jacquard heddles, and are adapted to receive said heddles therein.

In operating the loom, the Warp threads 17 are consecutively drawn from the warp spool 16, `and threaded through the eyes of the heddles 57 of the shafts 28. The threads 17 are then brought through the reed 41 over the guide 22, and thereafter secured to the take-up roll 21. If it is desired to weave a jacquard design on the cloth, a plurality of jacquard threads are placed upon the warp spool 16, and drawn through the jacquard heddles 53, thence alongside the heddles 57 of the harness, through the reed 4l and on to the take-up spool 21. The loom is now in condition for the weaving operation.

To perform the weaving operation, it is merely necessary to draw back one of the arms, as for example 34, so as to raise one of the shafts 28 attached thereto. The warp threads 17 will thereupon be spread` apart to receive therebetween the shuttle 47. The thread 50 of the shuttle 47 will be run in between the warp threads 17, as the shuttle traverses the race 44, as shown in Figure 3.

The reed 41 is then slid along the guide members 40 so as to force the thread 50 tightly against the previously woven portion 18 of thematerial. The arm 33 is then released from the notch 39 and the second arm 34 drawn back 4and engaged in its locking notch 39. The shafts 28 are pulled back to their original positions upon the release of the arms 33, 34, by the action of springs 60, which are secured at one end to the bottoms of the shafts and at the 4other end to the frame brace member 14.

The shuttle 47 is next passed through the alternately spread warp threads 17 until it reaches the opposite side of `the race 44, whereupon the reed 41 is again slid along the guide members 40 to tighten the thread 50. After each tightening operation the reed 41 is returned to its original position, as shown in Figure l.

The operator raises or lowers the jacquard heddles 53 in accordance with the design called for. Thus, if a spot of a specific color is required, the appropriate jacquard heddle 53 will be pulled up prior to the traverse of the shuttle 47. This action will bring the desired colored work to the upper surface of the woven fabric 18. If the color is not desired, the jacquard heddle 53 will be depressed, and will thereupon become submerged in the weave so as not to appear thereon.

In order to weave a jacquard design into the material, the operator will follow specific instructions, setting forth which of the jacquard heddles 53 should be raised or lowered, and in what sequence as the weaving operation continues.

As the woven fabric is formed, the warp threads 17 are moved through the loom and are taken up on the spool 21. Brake members each comprising a band 58 together with -a spring 59 secured to the free end thereof, are employed on the warp spool 16. In this manner a ltension is maintained upon the warp threads 17 during the weaving operation. The tension on the warp threads 17 is aided by the operation of the ratchet wheel 25 and holding pawl 26 secured at the take-up end of the loom.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a highly etlicient toy loom has been provided, capable of weaving a wide variety of patterns with the use of a minimum amount of skill. Further, the toy is capable of being operated with eXtreme safety, since there are no exposed needles or sharp projections. The moving parts have been reduced to a minimum, and although the toy has some of the appearance of commerciali-ooms, the simplicity of design and the economy of parts make it a useful, durable and relatively inexpensive toy.

Having thus fully described the invention, what -is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

l. A toy loom comprising, a base, a warp roller rotatably secured at one end of the base, brake means consisting of a band and spring member in frictional contact with said relier to retard its rotation, a take-up roller rotatably secured at the opposite end of the base, said rollers being adapted to carry warp threads therebetween, a ratchet wheel on the end of the take-up roller and a holding pawl carried by the base engageable with the ratchet wheel to prevent the warp threads from moving in the direction of the Warp roller, spaced upstanding frame members secured at opposite sides of the base between the rollers, a brace between said frame members, a plurality of shafts carried between the frame members, a plurality of heddles secured to each of the shafts, pulley means carried by the frame members and brace, a shaft raising and lowering device carried upon the upper part of one of the frame members, cords secured at one end of the raising and lowering device and connected to each of said shafts through the pulleys, a guide member secured to each of the frame members and extending in the direction of the take-up roller, a4 reed slidably supported at each end by the guide members, said reed lying in a plane parallel to the heddles, a race carried upon the take-up roller side of the reed, and a shuttle slidably received upon the upper surface of the race, said shuttle being adapted to carry the weft thread as the shuttle traverses the race. y

2. A toy loom comprising, a base, a warp roller rotatably secured at one end of the base, a take-up roller rotatably secured at the opposite end of the base, said rollers being adapted to carry warp threads therebetween, spaced upstanding frame members secured at opposite sides of the base between the rollers, a brace between said frame members, a plurality of shafts carried between the frame members, a plurality of heddles secured to each of the shafts, pulley means carried by the frame members and brace, a shaft raising and lowering device carried upon the upper part of one of the frame members, cords secured at one end to the raising and lowering device and connected to each of said shafts through the pulleys, a guide member secured to each of the frame members and extending in the direction of the take-up roller, a reed slidably supported at each end by the guide members, said reed lying in a plane parallel to the heddles, a race carried upon the take-up roller side of the reed, and a shuttle slidably received upon the upper surface of the race and a spool within said shuttle being adapted to carry the weft thread as the shuttle traverses the race.

3. A toy loom comprising, a base, a warp roller rotatably secured at one end of the base, a take-up roller rotatably secured at the opposite end of the base, said rollers being adapted to carry warp threads therebetween, spaced upstanding frame members secured at opposite sides of the base between the rollers, a brace between said frame members, a plurality of shafts carried between the frame members, a plurality of heddles secured to each of the shafts, a shaft raising and lowering device carried upon the upper part of one of the frame members and connected to each of said shafts, a guide member secured to each of the frame members and extending in the direction of the take-up roller, a reed slidably supported at each end by the guide members, said reed lying in a plane parallel to the heddles, a race carried upon the take-up roller side of the reed, a jacquard block secured to the brace, a plurality of jacquard heddles carried by the block in a plane parallel to the reed and means for holding the jacquard heddles in any desired position, and a shuttle slidably received upon the upper surface of the race, said shuttle being adapted to carry the weft thread as the shuttle traverses the race.

4. A toy loom comprising, a base, a warp roller rotatably secured at one end of the base, a take-up roller rotatably secured at the opposite end of the base, said rollers being adapted to carry warp threads therebetween, spaced upstanding frame members secured at opposite sides of the base between the rollers, a brace between said frame members, a plurality of shafts carried between the frame members, a plurality of heddles secured to each of the shafts, a shaft raising and lowering device carried upon the upper part of one of the frame members and connected to each of said shafts, a guide member secured to each of the frame members and extending in the direction of the take-up roller, a reed slidably supported at each end by the guide members, said reed lying in a plane parallel to the heddles, a race carried upon the take-up roller side of the reed, a jacquard block secured to the brace, a plurality of jacquard heddles carried by the block in a plane parallel to the reed and means consisting of a rubber block carried by the jacquard block in frictional contact with the jacquard heddles for holding the jacquard heddles in any desired position, and a shuttle slidably received upon the upper surface of the race, said shuttle being adapted to carry the weft thread as the shuttle traverses the race.

5. A toy loom comprising, a base, a warp roller rotatably secured at one end of the base, a take-up roller rotatably secured at the opposite end of the base, said rollers being adapted to carry warp threads therebetween, spaced upstanding frame members secured at opposite sides of the base between the rollers, a plurality of shafts carried between the frame members, a plurality of heddles secured to each of the shafts, a shaft raising and lowering device including a rack having locking notches therein carried upon the upper part of one of the frame members, and a plurality of arms pivotally mounted in the rack and engageable by the locking notches, said arms being individually operable and connected to each of said shafts, a guide member secured to each of the frame members and extending in the direction of the take-up roller, a reed slidably supported at each end by the guide members, said reed lying in a plane parallel to the heddles, a race carried upon the take-up roller side of the reed, and a shuttle slidably received upon the upper surface of the race, said shuttle being adapted to carry the weft thread as the shuttle traverses the race.

6. A toy loom comprising, a base, a warp roller rotatably secured at one end of the base, brake means consisting of a band and spring member in frictional contact with said roller to retard its rotation, a take-up roller rotatably secured at the opposite end of the base, said rollers being adapted to carry warp threads therebetween, a ratchet wheel on the end of the take-up roller and a holding pawl carried by the base engageable with the sprocket wheel to prevent the warp threads from moving in the direction of the warp roller, spaced upstanding frame members secured at opposite sides of the base between the rollers, a brace between said frame members, a plurality of shafts carried between the frame members, a plurality of heddles secured to each of the shafts, pulley means carried by the frame members and brace, a shaft raising and lowering device including a rack having locking notches therein carried upon the upper part of one of the frame members, and a plurality of arms pivotally mounted in the rack and engageable by the locking notches, said arms being individually operable, cords secured at one end to the raising and lowering device and connected to each of said shafts through the pulleys, a guide member secured to each of the frame members and extending in the direction of the take-up roller, a reed slidably supported at each end by the guide members, said reed lying in a plane parallel to the heddles, a race carried upon the take-up roller side of the reed, a jacquard block secured to the brace, a plurality 0f jacquard heddles carried by the block in a plane parallel to the reed and means consisting of a rubber block carried by the jacquard block in frictional contact with the jacquard heddles for holding the jacquard heddles in any desired position, and a shuttle slidably received upon the upper surface of the race and a spool within said shuttle being adapted to carry the weft thread as they shuttle traverses the race.v

7. A toy loom comprising, a base, a warp roller ro* tatably secured at one end of the base, a take-up roller rotatably secured at the opposite end of the base, said rollers being adapted to carry Warp threads therebetween, spaced upstanding frame members secured at opposite sides of the base between the rollers, a plurality of shafts carried between the frame members, a plurality of heddles secured to each of the shafts, a shaft raising and lowering device connected to each of said shafts, a guide member secured to each of the frame members and extending in the direction of the take-up roller, a reed slidably supported at each end by the guide members, said reed lying in a plane parallle to the heddles, a race carried upon the take-up roller side of the reed, a shuttle slidably received upon the upper surface of the race, a shuttle propelling means carried by the race, said shuttle being adapted to carry the weft thread as the shuttle traverses the race.

8. A toy loom comprising, a base, a warp roller rotatably secured at one end of the base, a take-up roller rotatably secured at the opposite end of the base, said rollers being adapted to carry warp threads therebetween, spaced upstanding frame members secured at opposite sides of the base between the rollers, a plurality of shafts carried between the frame members, a plurality of heddles secured to each of the shafts, a shaft raising and lowering device connected to each of said shafts, a guide member secured to each of the frame members and extending in the direction of the take-up roller, a reed slidably supported at each end by the guide members, said reed lying in a plane parallel to the heddles, a race carried upon the take-up roller side of the reed, a shuttle slidably received upon the upper surface of the race, a shuttle propelling means carried by the race, said propelling means consisting of a rod slidably carried at each end of the race, a block secured to the inner end of each rod and slidable upon the upper surface of the said race, a resilient member associated with said block to drive the block toward the opposed block, said shuttle being adapted to carry the weft thread as the shuttle traverses the race.

9. A toy loom comprising, a base, a warp roller rotatably secured at one end of the base, a take-up roller rotatably secured at the opposite end of the base, said rollers being adapted to carry warp threads therebetween, spaced upstanding frame members secured at opposite sides of the base between the rollers, a plurality of shafts carried between the frame members, a plurality of heddles secured to each of the shafts, a shaft raising and lowering device connected to each of said shafts, a guide member secured to cach of the frame members and extending in the direction of the take-up roller, a reed slidably supported at each end by the guide members, said reed lying in a plane parallel to the heddles, a race carried upon the take-up roller side of the reed, said race being provided with a longitudinal slot at each end thereof and terminating substantially short of the race center, a shuttle slidably received upon the upper surface of the race, a shuttle propelling means carried by the race, said propelling means consisting of a rod slidably carried at each end of the race, a block secured to the inner end of each rod and slidable upon the upper surface of the said race, a hook member secured to the block and extending through said race slot, a resilient member associated with said block secured at each end to the eX- tended ends of each of said hooks, to drive the block toward the opposed block, said shuttle being adapted to carry the weft thread as the shuttle traverses the race.

l0. A toy loom comprising, a base, a warp roller rotatably secured at one end of the base, a take-up roller rotatably secured at the opposite end of the base, said rollers being adapted to carry warp threads therebetween, spaced upstanding frame members secured at opposite sides of the base between the rollers, a plurality of shafts carried between the frame members, a plurality of heddles secured to each of the shafts, a shaft raising and lowering device connected to each of said shafts, a guide member secured to each of the frame members and extending in the direction of the take-up roller, a reed slidably supported at each end by the guide members, said reed lying in a plane parallel to the heddles, a race carried upon the take-up roller side of the reed, a shuttle slidably received upon the upper surface of the race, said shuttle being provided with a magnetically responsive metal tip at each end thereof, a shuttle propelling means carried by the race, said propelling means consisting of a rod slidably carried at each end of the race, a block secured to the inner end of each rod, and slidable upon the upper surface of the said race, said block having a permanent magnetic insert in the shuttle contact surface of the block, a resilient member associated with said block secured at each end to the extended ends of each of said blocks to drive the block toward the opposed block, said shuttle being adapted to carry the weft thread as the shuttle traverses the race.

11. A toy loom comprising, a base, a warp roller rotatably secured at one end of the base, a take-up rolle rotatably secured at the opposite end of the base, sai rollers being adapted to carry warp threads therebetween, spaced uptstanding frame members secured at opposite sides of the base between the rollers, a plurality of shafts carried between the frame members, a plurality of heddles secured to each of the shafts, a shaft raising and lowering device carried upon the upper part of one of the frame members and connected to each of said shafts, a guide member secured to each of the frame members and extending in the direction of the take-up roller, a reed slidably supported at each end by the guide members, said reed lying in a plane parallel to the heddles, a race carried upon the take-up roller side of the reed, said race being provided with a longitudinal slot at each end thereof and terminating substantially short of the race center, a shuttle slidably received upon the upper surface of the race, said shuttle being provided with a magnetically responsive metal tip at each end thereof, a shuttle propelling means carried by the race, said propelling means consisting of a rod slidably carried at each end of the race, a block secured to the inner end of each rod and slidable upon the upper surface of the said race, said block having a permanent magnetic insert in the shuttle contact surface of the block, a hook member secured to the block and extending through said race slot, a resilient member associated with said block secured at each end to the extended ends of each of said hooks to drive the block toward the opposed block, said shuttle being adapted to carry the weft thread as the shuttle a traverses the race.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,181,728 Botts May 2, 1916 1,332,166 De Neergaard Feb. 24, 1920 2,209,597 Clark et al. July 30, 1940 2,302,519 Bexell Nov. 17, 1942 2,677,395 Harding et al. May 4, 1954 

